HIV/AIDS: 30 years Later

It has been 30 years since the first case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was diagnosed in the United States. Currently, there are over a million estimated cases of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, in the the United States. Twenty percent of those affected are unaware of their infection.

A new report estimates than more than 33 million people in the world are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The American College of Physicians (ACP) diagnosing more of these cases and reinforcing current preventative measures.

HIV screening, treatment and prevention resources are available from the ACP.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and Dr. Carl W. Dieffenbach Director of NIAID’s Division of AIDS, say that three areas of research and implementation need to be focused on.

First, effective ways to implement the new antiretroviral therapy (ART) need to be established. While it is a successful therapy for AIDS, ART must be administered every day. This isn't feasible for all patients, especially those in third world countries.

Secondly, Fauci and Dieffenbach still want researchers to focus on a complete cure for patients to avoid the currently available daily ART therapies. They feel this is the only way to totally eradicate AIDS and provide patients living with AIDS a way to silence the disease in their bodies.

Thirdly, researchers need to develop a new vaccine that could aid in prevention along with currently available prevention strategies. Drugs and drug delivery approaches that stop the spread of the virus, as well as a vaccine, need to be developed.